Dental Plaque and Caries on Occlusal Surfaces of First Permanent Molars in Relation to Stage of Eruption

Abstract

The occlusal surfaces of partly and fully erupted first right permanent molars were examined with respect to the occurrence and distribution of plaque and dental caries in a group of 57 six- to eight-year-old children. The children were classified into four groups ranging from one tooth partially erupted to full occlusion. Occlusal plaque was recorded at two levels of examination: (1) visible plaque and (2) detailed mapping by means of a plaque detector system. Dental caries was recorded after professional cleaning. The recording of plaque was repeated after 48 hr without oral hygiene. The findings showed a significant reduction in the easily detectable plaque in fully erupted teeth, compared with the three groups representing partly erupted teeth. The detailed mapping of plaque showed a clear pattern of preferential locations related to the macromorphology of the occlusal surfaces, and revealed reduction in the frequency of thick plaque accumulation in the fully erupted teeth. The proportion of active lesions was reduced in fully erupted teeth, and arrested lesions were mainly observed in the same group. This indicated that erupting teeth are more likely to develop dental caries, due to favorable conditions for plaque accumulation. Functional usage of teeth in addition to improved access for toothbrushing promoted arrestment of lesions initiated during eruption.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Arnim, S.S. (1963): The Use of Disclosing Agents for Measuring Tooth Cleanliness, J Periodontol 34:227-244.

Artun, J. and Thylstrup, A. (1986): Clinical and Scanning Electron Microscope Study of Surface Changes of Incipient Caries Lesions After Debonding, Scand J Dent Res 94:193-201.

Backer Dirks, O. (1965): The Distribution of Caries in Relation to Tooth Surfaces. In: Caries Resistant Teeth, G.E.W. Wolstenholme and M. O' Connor , Eds., London: Churchill, pp. 66-85.

Backer Dirks, O. (1966): Posteruptive Changes in Dental Enamel, J Dent Res 45:503-511.

Berman, D.S. and Slack, G.L. (1973): Susceptibility of Tooth Surfaces to Carious Attack. A Longitudinal Study, Br Dent J 134:135-139.

Bille, J. ; Hesselgren, K. ; and Thylstrup, A. (1986): Dental Caries in Danish 7 - 11 and 13-year-old Children in 1963, 1972 and 1981, Caries Res 20:534-542.

Boyd, J.D. ; Wessels, K.E. ; and Leighton, R.E. (1952): Epidemiologic Studies in Dental Caries, J Dent Res 31:124-128.

Carlsen, O. (1987): Dental Morphology, Copenhagen : Munksgaard, pp. 109-144.

Crabb, H.S.M. (1964): Observations on the Enamel Structure of Unerupted Teeth, with Special Reference to Dental Caries, Adv Fluor Res 2: 69-76.

10.

Crabb, H.S.M. (1976): Fissures at Risk, Br Dent J 140: 303-307.

11.

Davies, T.G.H. and Pedersen, P.O. (1955): The Degree of Attrition of the Deciduous Teeth and the First Permanent Molars of Primitive and Urbanised Greenland Natives , Br Dent J 99: 35-43.

12.

Fukada, H. ; Yanagisawa, M. ; Araki, Y. ; Hirata, J. ; Takada, O. ; Goto, O. ; Narihara, M. ; and Akasaka, M. (1982): Studies on the Caries Susceptibility of First Molars, J Nihon Univ Sch Dent 24: 35-55.

13.

Gibson, G.B. and Richardson, A.S. (1980): Sticky Fissure Management - 30 Month Report, J Can Dent Assoc 4: 255-258.

14.

Holmen, L. and Thylstrup, A. (1984): Variations in "Normal" Enamel Surface as Visualized in the SEM, INSERM 125: 283-294.

15.

Holmen, L. ; Thylstrup, A. ; and Artun, J. (1987a): Surface Changes During the Arrest of Active Enamel Carious Lesions in vivo. A Scanning Electron Microscope Study, Acta Odontol Scand 45: 383-390.

16.

Holmen, L. ; Thylstrup, A. ; and Artun, J. (1987b): Clinical and Histological Features Observed During Arrestment of Active Enamel Carious Lesions in vivo, Caries Res 21: 546-554.

17.

Konig, K.G. (1963): Dental Morphology in Relation to Caries Resistance with Special Reference to Fissures as Susceptible Areas, J Dent Res 42: 461-476.

18.

Konig, K.G. (1966): Findings in Serially Sectioned Teeth Showing Early Fissure Lesions, Adv Fluor Res 4: 73-79.

19.

Löe, H. (1967): The Gingival Index, The Plaque Index and the Retention Index Systems, J Periodontol 38: 610-616.

20.

Marthaler, T. ; Schroeder, H. ; and Mühlemann, H. (1961): A Method for the Quantitative Assessment of Plaque and Calculus Formation, Helv Odont Acta 5: 39-42.

21.

Mateeva, H.R. (1970): Morphologic Studies of Initial Fissure Caries , Stomatologiia (Sofcia) 52: 437-446.

22.

Meiers, J.C. and Jensen, M.E. (1984): Management of the Questionable Carious Fissure: Invasive vs. Noninvasive Techniques, J Am Dent Assoc 106: 64-68.

23.

Miller, J. and Hobson, P. (1956): Determination of the Presence of Caries in Fissures , Br Dent J 3: 15-18.

24.

Mortimer, K.V. (1964): Some Histological Features of Fissure Caries in Enamel, Adv Fluor Res 2: 85-94.

25.

Nagano, T. (1961): The Form of Pit and Fissure and the Primary Lesion of Caries, Dent Abstr 6: No. 426.

26.

Newbrun, E. (1983): Cariology, 2nd ed., Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, pp. 50-114.

27.

Nikiforuk, G. (1985): Understanding Dental Caries, 1. Etiology and Mechanisms , New York: Karger, pp. 1-52.

28.

Parfitt, G.J. (1954): A Standard Clinical Examination of Teeth, Br Dent J 96: 296-300.

29.

Parfitt, G.J. (1956): The Speed of Development of the Carious Cavity , Br Dent J 100: 204-207.

30.

Ramfjord, S. (1959): Indices for Prevalence and Incidence of Periodontal Disease, J Periodontol 30: 51-59.

31.

Rosebury, T. and Waugh, L.M. (1939): Dental Caries among Eskimos of the Kuskokwim Area of Alaska, Am J Dis Child 57: 871-893.

32.

Shick, R.A. and Ash, M.M. (1961): Evaluation of the Vertical Method of Toothbrushing , J Periodontol 32: 346-353.

33.

Siegel, S. (1956): Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences , New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company .

34.

Silverstone, L.M. ; Johnson, N.W. ; Hardie, J.M. ; and Williams, R.A.D. (1981): Dental Caries. Aetiology, Pathology and Prevention, London: The MacMillan Press Ltd., pp. 4-69.

35.

Von Der Fehr, F.R. (1986): Epidemiology of Dental Caries. In: Textbook of Cariology, A. Thylstrup and O. Fejerskov , Eds., Copenhagen : Munksgaard, pp. 266-275.